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read moreNRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo has revealed that the governing body will not be mandating a COVID-19 vaccine policy for players but has warned that those who are no vaccinated players will likely be subject to more stringent protocols.
Hours after the AFL mandated that its players will have to be vaccinated by mid-February, Abdo said the NRL will be taking a different approach.
The NRL has been grappling with mandatory vaccinations since the resumption of the 2020 season when several high-profile players expressed reluctance to be immunised.
Despite many businesses and rival codes mandating employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Abdo said the NRL would leave it up to the players, telling Channel 7 “clearly we need to make sure we have continuity to the competition, and we are creating a safe working environment.
“We are busy working on the protocols for the players who are vaccinated and the players that are not vaccinated. Hopefully we are talking about a very small group of players. They will have, I’d imagine, some pretty rigorous requirements around what they will be able to do in order to train and play.”
However, Abdo acknowledged that the public health orders of state governments or airlines may force the NRL to change its approach, stating “of course this might be taken out of our hands by health orders or by airlines, so there will be repercussions for those that don’t choose to be vaccinated but it’s not our approach as a governing body to mandate it.
“Between now and the end of the off-season we will have a very clear set of guidelines for how the clubs and players can get back to training safely for those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t yet vaccinated.”
Abdo claimed some clubs had close to 90% of players and staff vaccinated with the governing body’s own staff up to 98%.
Abdo also revealed the NRL is working on one set of protocols for vaccinated players and another “rigorous” set for unvaccinated players.
He went on to state “in terms of answering the really hard question - what is our formal policy going to be for the new season? - the (Australian Rugby League) Commission has made this clear; we’re not taking an approach of making this mandatory, consistent with the way the federal and state governments are
“It’s definitely not mandatory to be vaccinated. However, we need to make sure in continuing the competition that we’re creating a safe working environment.”
The Sydney Roosters have previously advised of plans to ban unvaccinated fans from NRL fixtures in 2022.
22nd October 2021 - AFL introduces ‘no jab no play’ COVID-19 vaccination mandate
13th October 2021 - Redcliffe-based Dolphins announced as NRL’s 17th franchise for 2023 season
12th October 2021 - Data analytics company STR share impact on hospitality sector of AFL and NRL Grand Finals
8th October 2021 - Australian Rugby League Commission agrees expansion plans for 17th NRL team
1st October 2021 - Victorian Premier announces COVID vaccines will be mandatory for all essential workers in the state
1st October 2021 - More than 300,000 jabs administered at Qudos Bank Arena vaccination centre
30th September 2021 - Rising Coronavirus cases sees Suncorp Stadium crowd capped at 75% for NRL Grand Final
29th September 2021 - Ahead of NRL Grand Final Suncorp extends naming rights deal for Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
24th September 2021 - Australian Government extends NRL partnership raising profile of vocational education and training
17th September 2021 - NRL clubs to receive up to $7 million in funding in COVID-19 Relief Package
14th September 2021 - NRL unveils support package for NRLW players after postponement of 2021 season
13th September 2021 - MCG encourages sport and entertainment fans to get vaccinated
9th September 2021 - Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium to host relocated NRL Grand Final
8th September 2021 - Regional Queensland secures NRL finals
29th August 2021 - What employers need to consider about vaccinations for staff and consumers
24th August 2021 - Sydney Roosters advise of plans to ban unvaccinated fans from NRL fixtures in 2022
1st August 2021 - NRL sidesteps Greater Brisbane lockdown with five games in two days at Suncorp Stadium
31st July 2021 - AFL and NRL fixtures cancelled as snap lockdown introduced in South East Queensland
12th July 2021 - NSW NRL clubs and Canberra Raiders to relocate to Queensland to counter NSW COVID-19 restrictions
11th June 2021 - NRL announces expansion of women’s competition to six teams
14th May 2021 - Suncorp Stadium ready for NRL Magic Round
24th March 2021 - NRL completes restructuring of its medical department
25th February 2021 - NRL cuts operating costs by more than a third in wake of Coronavirus challenges
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